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Just last month, ActionSA joined the country in lamenting the acquittal of Nigerian “bible-preneur” Timothy Omotoso in his sexual abuse case. We were disappointed by yet another failure of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to present a solid case to the court, a failure that ultimately led to his acquittal. Nevertheless, we called for his deportation from South Africa due to the seriousness of the allegations he faced.

Today, we welcome his deportation from South Africa and hope he never returns to a country whose people and laws he held in contempt. The same fate should befall anyone who either enters our country through fraudulent means or commits crime once here. While our call for harsh punishment against criminals is not limited to foreign nationals, we particularly advocate for severe sentences and eventual deportation in such cases. It is high time South Africa ceased to be seen as a haven for criminality.

There should be a general zero tolerance for crime, regardless of who commits it. However, an additional measure, namely deportation, should apply to those who come here to abuse the hospitality of our country and its citizens. This should serve as a deterrent to those who seek to enter South Africa through fraudulent means and, once here, show disregard for our laws.

We also call for the five-year ban to be extended to a lifetime ban, ensuring that once deported for criminal acts, no foreign national is ever allowed to return to South Africa.

Issued by ActionSA President Herman Mashaba